Chen Danyan hurriedly sniffled and wiped her tears with a handkerchief.
Yun Jinnian watched her, feeling particularly heartbroken.
The two walked out of the room together, entering the vast courtyard of the elder Chen. When the old Madam Chen saw Chen Danyan, she knew that the girl had been crying.
Being advanced in age and having witnessed much, including white-haired people sending off those with black hair, Madam Chen knew that the condition of Elder Chen meant his days were numbered.
And in that moment, Chen Danyan’s red and swollen eyes, along with her distraught appearance, further confirmed Madam Chen’s suspicions.
Taking a deep breath, "Jinnian, you go in alone!" she said.
Yun Jinnian gently pushed the door and entered the room.
Elder Chen was reclining alone on the Arhat bed.
Seeing Yun Jinnian coming in, he beckoned her over. When Yun Jinnian approached, he pointed to the embroidered stool in front of him, "Sit!"
Yun Jinnian carefully sat down.
"What’s the matter, are you afraid of this old man who’s about to kick the bucket?" Elder Chen asked with a smile.
Yun Jinnian shook her head slightly, "Not entirely afraid!"
"Oh? What else is there?"
"There’s also respect and admiration. Despite being a woman, I have the utmost admiration for the elder’s talents, so I am cautious and dare not presumptuous!"
Upon hearing this, Elder Chen suddenly burst into laughter.
He began to understand why his granddaughter liked Yun Jinnian.
She was a girl with clear thoughts.
"Since that’s the case, tell me, how is my condition?" Elder Chen spoke seriously while looking at Yun Jinnian, "Don’t delude me. I may be old, but I’m not senile!"
Yun Jinnian took a deep breath.
She rested her hands on her knees, joining them together, and pursed her lips.
Her heart was in turmoil.
But as Elder Chen said, he was only old, not senile.
Whether what she said was true or false, he could guess.
"Elder, I dare not deceive you, your time is short!" Yun Jinnian said, taking another deep breath.
Elder Chen was startled, then laughed, "Finally, someone who dares to speak the truth!"
Yun Jinnian cast her eyes down.
"Those in the Imperial Medical Bureau – a group lacking responsibility – only comfort me, saying that with proper rest, I’ll be fine. But I know my own body!" Elder Chen said, seemingly relieved.
Not much time left - the debts of my youth should be properly repaid.
Yun Jinnian remained silent, not daring to join the conversation carelessly.
Elder Chen looked at the top of Yun Jinnian’s head and chuckled, "Tell me, how many months do I have left? Do I have two?"
"That’s good, that’s good. With two months, everything can be managed," Elder Chen said, smiling warmly and kindly, then asked, "Could you possibly prepare that kind of potent medicine, which after taking, makes one appear very healthy, able to sustain for a month or two like a normal person?"
Yun Jinnian looked up sharply, staring at Elder Chen in astonishment.
Elder Chen did not hide his intentions from Yun Jinnian and said lightly, "In the past, I always wanted to climb higher and higher, neglecting my wife significantly. Throughout these years, she has accompanied me through thick and thin, enduring much hardship, yet I have never truly been by her side. If I could steal two more months of life, I would like to genuinely accompany her once, to repay her years of unrepentant devotion and tender companionship!"
After finishing, Elder Chen looked at Yun Jinnian, then sighed, "A child like you, how could you understand? I’m speaking nonsense!"
Yun Jinnian pressed her lips together; she wanted to say that she did understand.
How could she possibly not understand!
In her previous life, she wanted to accompany Chu Liange in the same way, but what was the outcome? Chu Liange and Zhu Yan joined hands to ruin her completely!
"Girl, you still haven’t said whether you can prepare it or not!"